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Post subject: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:27 pm
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Good Evening all. I was playing my 84 Fender Concert amp today and heard a bit of crackling and a bit of almost growling noise that wasn't there the last time I played it a couple weeks ago. The tubes are all original (it has worked so well all these years, I am the original owner) so I am guessing from what I have seen here on the forum it is probably time for a tune up.

What all does that involve? New tubes obviously, I have a set of matched Sovtek 5881WXT's to replace the 6L6's, should I also have the pre amp tubes replaced as well? And would you recommend these tubes for this amp...I mostly use the distortion channel on this amp.

I assume that I will need to have the bias reset and don't feel confident about doing that myself so can anyone recommend a good amp tech in the St Louis area, preforable on the Illinois side of the mississippi.

Is there anything else I should have done as well?

Thanks for any advice you have.

T2

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:50 pm
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I am also the original owner of an 84 concert amp. Yes you are long overdue for a retubing. Don't waste your money on sovteks. I use either SED winged C's or TAD 6L6STR's for the output tubes they are both really sonic tubes and compliment this or any amp. For preamp tubes I favor the Tung Sol 12AX7A's for the ambiance that they add to the feel of this amp. Electro Harmonix 12AX7A's are also nice but try a JAN 5751 in the first preamp socket it give your drive a nice crunch and will sweeten the tone of this amp futher. The 5751's will add some chime and jangle to the tone.

This is a good start.


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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:07 am
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"Crackling" and "growling" at idle are often symptoms of DC leakage from aging coupling and/or bypass caps that are approaching or have arrived at the end of their service life. Likely there are tube issues as well but it's probably time for a general "IRAN" to keep the amp on the duty roster. That these Fenders last as long as they do is a testament to the quality of both the design and the components chosen to execute it.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:36 am
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Thanks for the info Stratstar54 and Arjay...I have heard good things about the winged C's and might as well try the tung sols too, but I thought the Sovteks were supposed to be pretty hearty tubes? Are they just not that musical?

Any idea how much a cap job should cost. I am going to have to do some reasearch around my area for a good tech to perform this tune up so I would like a ballpark figure if possible.

T2

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:31 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
"Crackling" and "growling" at idle are often symptoms of DC leakage from aging coupling and/or bypass caps that are approaching or have arrived at the end of their service life. Likely there are tube issues as well but it's probably time for a general "IRAN" to keep the amp on the duty roster. That these Fenders last as long as they do is a testament to the quality of both the design and the components chosen to execute it.

HTH

Arjay

I would definitely go with a cap job and a retubing. I would not put the sovtex 5881 in. It will last a long time but it's not the best preforming tube out there. I find it's kinda dull in the tone. For power tubes i would go with Tad's 6l6Str i just put them in an amp this week and they sound killer. And i have always liked tungsol's 12ax7


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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:03 am
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The best musical quality comes from the Winged C's And TAD's. The sovteks are durable tubes but are not musical compared to the 2 mentioned. You will like either set of tubes, I switch between both because I like them so much.

Try Doug's Tubes online. It is a great website and they are very helpful. The service and delivery is quick and the tubes are tested and matched. They will provide matched triodes per tube if you want.


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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:13 am
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Thanks Stratstar54 that Dougs Tubes looks like a great site, good prices on a couple tubes I have been looking for the TAD 6L6GCSTR's only $40 for a matched set...wow :!: :!:

Also the Wing C's for $80 a matched pair...big difference...are they similar in performance and tone? I would sure rather spend $40 for a matched pair since I could get two pairs for the same price and have a backup pair for my SFSR too :!:

They also have a RCA NOS 5U4GB tested for $30...not bad :D

T2

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:23 am
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That seems high for the Winged C',s. That sounds like the price for a quartet(4) of tubes. I bought my last set for almost the same price as the TAD's last summer.

The TAD's are great tubes, I would not recommend one over the other I like them both that much.

I am not a fan of NOS output tubes. They were great in their day as I used them when the U.S. manufactured them (RCA, GE, Sylvania). Now you will spend a lot of money to get what you get and put a very old tube in a new(er) strong amplifier. They can be mismatched and generally have already been used.

Remember, electronics die everyday that you turn them on so these used old tubes are very chancey.

However the JAN's are not used, not as old, sound terrific and therefore are my exception because they have performed beautifully.


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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:36 am
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stratstar54 wrote:
I am not a fan of NOS output tubes......They can be mismatched and generally have already been used.


WTF?

If they're "used" then by definition they're not "New Old Stock".

And since the military has not had any tubes manufactured for its use in over twenty years, all unused mil-spec JAN's are also considered to be "NOS".

"JAN"......Joint Army/Navy

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:44 pm
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I doubled checked and yeah $80 for a matched set of Wing'd C's at Dougs...found them on another @ $68 for matched pair...I think I am going to go with a set of Wing'd C's and another set of TADs as a backup spare set. I am going to use the Tung Sol 12AX7A's for the pre amp tubes and am going to try your suggestion on the JAN 5751 in the first preamp socket, sounds like the tone I am after...and if not then I will through another Tung Sol 12ax7a if I don't like it...

Thanks for all the help...now I just need to go order the tubes and find a good tech...yeah thats all I need...and this ash tray...and and and this stool...

T2

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:56 pm
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Don't forget the Fender-engraved Zippo and the coffee mug......

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:27 pm
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Unfortunately, the St Petersburg, Russia plant is no longer making power tubes. Soon, no tubes. This is the producers of the original 1990's Svetlana & today's Winged-C (=C=), SED tubes.

This is why the prices of new SED have gone through the roof. Better get them while you can. I like the 1990's brown based, Winged-C (=C=, on tube) 6L6GC and 6550C. Two of the better power tubes to come outta any tube makeing plant.

Good luck with your hunt!


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Post subject: Re: 84 Concert Amp Tune Up
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:37 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Unfortunately, the St Petersburg, Russia plant is no longer making power tubes. Soon, no tubes. This is the producers of the original 1990's Svetlana & today's Winged-C (=C=), SED tubes.

This is why the prices of new SED have gone through the roof. Better get them while you can. I like the 1990's brown based, Winged-C (=C=, on tube) 6L6GC and 6550C. Two of the better power tubes to come outta any tube makeing plant.

Good luck with your hunt!


+1000

I don't have need for any 6550's but if I owned a Sunn 200S, Sceptre, or Model T, those would be the tubes I'd use. I had high hopes that SED would eventually resurrect the 7027A to help the Ampeg guys keep their B25's, VT22's, V4's, and V6's on the road. Alas, t'was not to be......

:(

Arjay

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